my microcosm

Mark Twain Was Right: The 2001 Cincinnati Riots

Dan P. Moore's first graphic novel Mark
Twain Was Right charts the course of the 2001 Cincinnati Riots,
the largest urban unrest (the first in the 21st century)
since the 1992 LA Riots. Moore's book is an engaging work of
journalism—as-narrative-comic, tracing the riot's genesis from the
senseless police killing of a 19-year-old black man to the man's
funeral six days later. What results is a tumultuous cocktail of
nonviolent civil disobedience, frustration-fueled looting, and
further police violence. Interviews with people of varying
perspectives—activists, community leaders, a looter, bystanders, etc—weave a tale of inner-city community coming together. Here we witness a
city boiling over, and all the political grossness, interpersonal
rallying, and rampant destruction that entails. At 96 pages, Mark
Twain Was Right is an important chapter of American history, a
story often overlooked and generally misreported, a piece of our
lineage that must not be forgotten.

Comments

Gapers Block3/5/2013

"Mark Twain Was Right is both intimate and educational,"

-Claire Glass, Gapers Block

The Daily Planet1/2/2013

"The Cincinnati riots are a major moment in recent American history and the roots and causes of the anger and sadness that took over that city for days deserve your attention as much as anything on a comic store shelf. It’s one of those rare instances where comics aren’t just telling this important story better than other media, comics is the only one telling it. Support a unique voice, support a worthwhile book, and get yourself a great book all at the same time. "

"Moore reports some of the story from his direct observation, and the rest through a series of flashback interviews with others who were directly involved. Moore and the other narrators are unflinchingly honest, revealing their mistakes and regrets along with the passion for justice that motivated their actions."

Moore reports some of the story from his direct observation, and the rest through a series of flashback interviews with others who were directly involved. Moore and the other narrators are unflinchingly honest, revealing their mistakes and regrets along with the passion for justice that motivated their actions.

I honestly had no idea that for a week back in 2001 Cincinnati was embroiled in some intense race riots over excessive (and repeated) abuse from the police. I mean, the city was nearly under martial law while thousands protested in the streets, busted into city hall, demanded justice, and basically got all socially aware on the powers that be. This book documents it all in comic book form, and it’s a good read I gotta say. History is always way more fun when it’s in comic book form...The story tends to play out in more of an oral biography, taking the stories and experiences of a wide range of citizens involved in some way or another with what happened.

Chris Auman - Reglar Wiglar9/26/2012

"his journalistic instincts and story-telling chops make this graphic novel a compelling account of an important event in U.S. race relations. Like Joe Sacco's Footnotes in Gaza, Moore doesn't let us forget the smaller, forgotten battles in the larger struggle."

"you can feel the almost palpable forward energy of this story on nearly every page. [...] Mark Twain Was Right is a great example of comic as reportage, and comics as a way to convey complex ideas in a way that no other artform can convey them."